2015 Beta Testing - The Components are Here.

[cgmv123]

Originally Posted by Nate Laverdure

You can get self-resetting circuit breakers in this form factor fairly easily.

Amazon
Grainger

I'd be very surprised if replacing the PDB fuse with a breaker will be legal for competition.

[Gdeaver]

May CRE did something fancy like soft starting the compressor.

[taichichuan]

You can like our Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/FRC2015ControlsBeta

For the latest in Team 116's beta testing of the new controls. We just got most of the 'bot integrated and we're working on getting the software going next. We're working with WinDoze first to figure out the flow. But, since many of us are die-hard Linux fans, getting everything working on Linux is big on our list of to-dos. BTW, the Simulator for C++ and Java runs on Ubuntu 14.04. So, getting everything integrated for the 14.04 release (compilers, etc.) show help streamline most of the activity and get us out from under the tyranny of WinDoze 8.

Mike

[Mark McLeod]

Originally Posted by timytamy

Could you post the quick measurements? I expect that at this stage most people are mainly interested in seeing whether the centre-to-centre distances are multiples, 1/4", 1/2" 10mm, 20mm, etc.

The CTRE CAD has been posted for:

• Voltage Regulator Module
• Pneumatics Control Module
• Power Distribution Panel

http://www.crosstheroadelectronics.c...ol_system.html

[Karthik]

We've posted some short video walkthroughs of the Beta Control System components. Here's a link to a Youtube Playlist of all seven videos.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...FQhrOJ7KvZbkBQ

The videos cover:
1. Overview
2. RobotRio
3. Pneumatic Control Module
4. Power Distribution Panel
5. Voltage Regulator Module
6. Victor SP
7. Weidmuller Connectors

[Jared]

I have a few questions about the new hardware.

Does the CAN bus support multiple pneumatics modules?
Are the 12 volt connectors with the 20/10 amp fuses on the PDP regulated? (I don't think so, but I'm not sure)

Do the compressor, solenoids, and voltage regulator module, which powers cameras, custom circuits, and the radio share the same single 20 amp fuse? If this trips (because of compressor current spikes or short anywhere) does this mean radio power is lost?

[magnets]

Originally Posted by Jared

I have a few questions about the new hardware.

Does the CAN bus support multiple pneumatics modules?
Are the 12 volt connectors with the 20/10 amp fuses on the PDP regulated? (I don't think so, but I'm not sure)

Do the compressor, solenoids, and voltage regulator module, which powers cameras, custom circuits, and the radio share the same single 20 amp fuse? If this trips (because of compressor current spikes or short anywhere) does this mean radio power is lost?

Team 358's website is an awesome resource for the beta test. They really have everything.

From reading their description, you're right about how it works.

(2) dedicated power for Pneumatics Module and/or Voltage Regulator w/20a fuse

I agree that putting the radio, the most critical component of the control system, on a non-resetting fuse that is shared with many other loads is a silly idea. Starting a compressor when the battery is very low often trips the spike's fuse, and in addition, we are also powering 8 solenoid valves (less than .25 amps for all 8 channels going at the same time) and over 3.5 amps (@ 12 volts) from the VRM.

[jvedder]

On the new roboRIO, there are dedicated I2C and SPI ports in addition to I2C and SPI pins on the MXP port.

Are those shared signals or separate ports?

[Mark McLeod]

separate ports

[jman4747]

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

separate ports

Are the RS-232 and MXP UART also separate? And do you know if the USB ports could be used to communicate in direct connection with a microprocessor or R-Pi as a serial port or via a USB to RS-232 converter?

[Mark McLeod]

The RS232 and the TTL ports are also separate.
The USB device port is already used to communicate with Driver Station and user development PCs.

The other two USB ports don't have any FRC assigned purpose yet and can be used as you wish and extended however you can devise through Linux support. You'd need compatible Linux drivers for any USB to RS232 converter. That development will have to be conducted by you in regards to your special needs.

Originally Posted by jman4747

Are the RS-232 and MXP UART also separate? And do you know if the USB ports could be used to communicate in direct connection with a microprocessor or R-Pi as a serial port or via a USB to RS-232 converter?

[jhersh]

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

The other two USB ports don't have any FRC assigned purpose yet and can be used as you wish and extended however you can devise through Linux support. You'd need compatible Linux drivers for any USB to RS232 converter. That development will have to be conducted by you in regards to your special needs.

The most well-functioning USB-serial chipset that works well with the roboRIO is the FTDI. If your device uses an FTDI, you shouldn't have any trouble. Others can function but with more effort.

[billbo911]

I'm certain this has been mentioned elsewhere on CD, but in this thread I didn't see any mention of it.

We have a new mentor who does Java programming for a living. He would like to help us migrate from using LabView to using Java. We have not done this in the past because I have ZERO, nada, nothing in the way of Java experience.

So, to help him help us, I need to point him to all the resources available for this new controller and the implementation of Java it will be using.
Basically, where can I point him?

[Jon Stratis]

Well, I don't think the libraries are public yet... the RoboRio is running Java 8 SE, and the library API isn't really that different than it was last year. If he knows Java 8, he can look up the javadoc form last year and figure it out pretty easily.

[Bryce Paputa]

Originally Posted by Jon Stratis

Well, I don't think the libraries are public yet... the RoboRio is running Java 8 SE, and the library API isn't really that different than it was last year. If he knows Java 8, he can look up the javadoc form last year and figure it out pretty easily.

For years we've been trying to get real time debugging working on java over the network and we haven't been able to get it to work, have you used it on the robo rio?